I offer counselling and psychotherapy to clients by Skype, which has the advantage of bringing therapy to people who might otherwise not be able to access a physical therapy space. This might be for a number of reasons, e.g., the person has a disability, is housebound, has problems with social skills, or lives abroad. It is also cheaper than most of my usual face-to-face rates in London and Nottingham: £50 for 50 minutes for individuals and £75 for couples for 80 minutes.

Clients who have recently completed a course of therapy with me by Skype include an individual living in a remote part of the world and a couple who wanted therapy with out having to leave their home due to childcare reasons. I asked my clients if they would provide testimonials for me to let people know that therapy by Skype can be a rewarding experience for those not able to attend in person. Both the individual and the couple kindly wrote me their reviews, which remain anonymous, of course. Please read below.

Review from a client living in a remote part of the world who had medium-term therapy:

There are people who have touched my life at points of personal crisis and turmoil and to whom I will be ever grateful. Laura is one of those people. With skill, knowledge, wisdom and humanity, she has enabled me to move from a place of despair to a place of optimism and hope. My life has been transformed by her intervention and I now have a future which a few months ago I did not believe to be possible.

When I first read Laura's online profile I immediately felt a sense of connection. My feeling was confirmed by the initial email contacts and an introductory session via Skype. Laura's clarity around all practical matters contributed to a feeling of security, enabling me to feel more confident about the whole process. This enabled trust to develop even prior to the start of therapy. Laura also built in opportunities for reflection and feedback at regular intervals which I found helpful and reassuring.

During each therapy session I felt safe to express thoughts and feelings which I had never been able share with other people. At no time did I feel judged, embarassed or awkward, even when making disclosures about which I had a sense of shame. It is hard to capture the essence of how Laura kept the work flowing, and how gently she challenged me to consider new ways of looking at difficult issues which had endured for many years. She completely understood my goal for therapy and kept me moving towards my desired outcome. Each session left me with a sense that I had got exactly what I needed in order to continue the process of change throughout the forthcoming week. I was fortunate to be at a moment in my life when I had time and space available, as I did, at times, feel destabilised and disorientated. However, even the toughest of moments seem like nothing in comparison to the happiness and freedom I am now enjoying as a result of making the journey.

Words seem so inadequate to express my appreciation to Laura for all that she offered to me during our therapy sessions, but as they are all I have right now, here they are 'THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!'

Review from a couple who had short-term therapy:

Myself and my husband had a few months Skype couple counselling with Laura as we wanted to improve our communication and intimacy. We both quickly felt really comfortable talking to Laura. Laura gave us some really useful questions to think about before we first met and they helped us to realise that we both wanted the same positive end goal from counselling, even though it didn't feel like we were on the same page. The sessions we had made a huge difference in our relationship and although our relationship is obviously not perfect :) we understand each others needs more, see the good intentions, are quicker to communicate in a helpful way, have a load of tools to help us going forward and are enjoying a lot more intimacy and affection. My husband is a counselling convert having never really experienced it before. Laura was really great at listening whilst keeping us on track and drawing out the subtle important bits and making sure they got talked through. Highly recommend.

Do you think that therapy by Skype might work for you, or for you and your partner?